Changing lives one smile at a time

We all love stories about the self-made man and the American dream. You can come to this country with just the shirt on your back and have the opportunity to be successful. Dr. Trieu Ton, an Oakley dentist and owner of Autumn Lake Dental, is living that dream. At just 30 years old, the dentist and entrepreneur is living proof of the journey to success.

“My parents immigrated to the U.S. as refugees from Vietnam in the early 1980s and emphasized to us the meaning of hard work and the importance of education and giving back to the community,” Ton said.

Hard work led Ton to UC Davis and eventually to UC San Francisco’s School of Dentistry. After graduating from dental school, he accepted a three-year position at Ko’olauloa Community Health Center in Hawaii where he provided dental care to the underprivileged community. He was later appointed as dental director of the program. He helped organize a school-based dental center and also volunteered at a local hospital, treating the dental needs of bed-bound patients.

“It was a rewarding experience for me,” Ton said. “I didn’t realize I had the kind of capacity to take on so much.”

While the work was rewarding, Ton missed his family, who was still in Sacramento. He moved back to the area to be near them and worked in several private practices.

“Working for a dental practice as an associate dentist didn’t give me the option to provide the best experiences and best services for my patients, so I started Autumn Lake Dental,” he said.

Autumn Lake Dental in Oakley delivers conservative, comfortable and convenient dental care for patients of all ages. The office is open late as well as on the weekends. Autumn Lake Dental also works with your budget and offers affordable payment plans. Comfort is also a top priority met by offering pillows, blankets and TVs in all treatment rooms as well as a kids’ play area with video games and toys.

“To give our patients peace of mind, we also have a five-year warranty on all of our services,” says Ton.

Having happy patients is what makes the work so rewarding for Ton: “Being a dentist allows me to utilize my artistic skills to improve or restore a person’s smile, build long-term relationships, and make a difference in people’s lives, whether it be a smile makeover or helping someone be able to chew again.

“I believe when people have a great experience at the dentist, they will develop a positive outlook for dentistry, especially as a child.”

Autumn Lake Dental is located at 2199 Main St. in Oakley. The office is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.autumnlakedental.com or call 925-478-2735.

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